Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

94 that’s drifting towards 95. Hour decant.

Christian Moueix’s Oakvile property that sits to the north of Dominus and located on the Oakville Bench. There are some that believe there is a bench & others who don’t. I guess it comes down to education & experience that determines one’s opinion.

First time having the Ulysses and is different than the single digit 2000’s of Dominus I’ve had. More a bit of Cabernet candy. Less herbal, gobs of melted dark chocolate to chocolate cake, dark currants & cassis.

The nose shows; dark, ruby, ripe, dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh tobacco, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, whiffs of graphite, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers.

The palate has M+ rounded, velvety tannins. It’s ripe, rich & lush; dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, cocoa powder, caramel, some fresh tobacco w/ ash, sandalwood to cedar, mid used leather notes, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, dark spice with some palate heat, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, more pronounced graphite, dry top soils, dry crushed limestone, volcanics, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers-violets, excellent, round city with an elegant, lush, balanced, well kitted & tensioned, polished finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on fruit with softened earthiness.

Roughly 9 yrs in bottle & is just starting to reveal nice integration & evolution. Still acceding & has 15 plus yrs of life ahead of it, properly stored of course.

Paired w/ a Wagyu Ribcap.

I’ve been fortunate to sit next to Christian Moueix at dinner twice and he is authentic/genuine & humble as it gets.

Photos of; Ulysses winery, Christian Moueix, Cabernet fruit and their estate vineyard. — a month ago

Anthony Pro

9.2

Othello: this isn't another Shakespearean tragedy. There is no downfall for Christian Moueix here. Phenomenal. Huge! #Promotion — 9 years ago

Colin Chin

9.8

It has finally come around. Beautifully integrated tannins and fruit. Plums and cherries. A Classic French Bordeaux by Christian Moueix bravo. This should be the wine standard. Drink now or in the next 5 years. — 11 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

Christian Moueix @ Dominus Estate Cab Blend - drinking well ! 14.5% abv — a year ago

Jay Kim

9.0

Robinson Road - September 22, 2021 — 4 years ago

Larry Wood

8.9

To decant or not to decant this is the question! 2012 Napa. Too good to drink daily but not a grand Sunday bottle for the father-in-law either..... or so I thought. I opened the bottle and had an immediate glass. Lovely. I then let it breath for another 40mins whilst supper was made. With breathing it became very very nice indeed. Smooth, not dry, low in tanning aftertaste. Going to say rosemary and marzipan (and trying not to sound like I'm making this up - it really does!)
We ate pink duck and avocado salad and it was as good a combination I can remember. I bought 4 bottles from my merchant and I'll take time to decant at next drinking. Some wines just won't wait but I'm learning some need a little time to show their true colours! Who doesn't like to find out something new?! — 8 years ago

Milad Zabihi

8.9

Full bodied- Great smooth bitterness. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

10

Estate is the Napa Valley property of Bordeaux producer Christian Moueix; wine is bottled at historic Napanook Vineyard. A blend of 89% Cab Sauv, 6% Cab Franc & 5% Petit Verdot, aged in 40% new French oak, dark Ruby with aromas of dark currant-like berries, tobacco and cedar. On the palate layers of ripe blackberry, black cherry and cassis with vanilla, cacao and espresso. Well balanced, fine soft integrated tannins, long finish ending with floral, fruit, mineral and slight earthy character. Needs a half dozen years in the bottle but will last 20+ years! As good as Cab gets! — 3 years ago

Elliot Parfitt

9.5

Exceptional.
Had it with roast beef but very drinkable on its own too. On the fuller side of medium bodied. Great without decanting. — 8 years ago

Stas Medvedev

8.9

Deep red bordeaux color. Dominating aromas of Merlot (blend Merlot 80%, CabFranc 20%). Earthy, powerful aromas of berries. This Pomerol blend expresses more woody and smoked meat notes compared to the one from St.Emilion of the same vintage. Christian Moueix put his name on this wine that guarantees its great quality. Small fraction of grapes from top Chateaus run by Moueix must be present in this assemblage. It’s like spying after Chateau Petrus through the keyhole. Great value for money anyway! Rating 3,9/5 — 9 years ago